The National Education Association Representative Assembly — the RA — is the highest decision-making body within the 3 million-member NEA. With nearly 6,000 delegates, the RA is also the world's largest democratic deliberative body.
Over the course of eight business sessions spanning four days, RA delegates debate the vital issues that impact American public education and set association policy and activities for the year ahead.
Statewide, regional and retired delegates from Massachusetts to the 2027 NEA Representative Assembly will be elected by the membership during February, March and April.
The nomination process begins Nov. 1 and will close at 5 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 8, 2027. Nominees are encouraged to use the self-nomination at massteacher.org/nomform. The form may be submitted electronically. The election period for statewide and regional delegates runs from March 1 through April 16.
Online voting instructions for statewide and regional delegates will be sent to eligible active MTA/NEA members.
For active members, the delegate categories include regional non-supervisor, statewide non-supervisor and statewide other/supervisor.
The MTA will be notified by the NEA in January 2027 of the number of delegates allocated to Massachusetts. The allocation of statewide and regional delegates will be based on electoral regions A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. A list of local associations by electoral region is available on request.
The distribution of statewide and regional seats will be voted on by the MTA Board of Directors at its meeting in February; candidates will be informed of the final allocation plan and will be given an opportunity to alter the designation for the level they seek to represent.
The election period for retired delegates runs from Feb. 1, 2027, through March 12, 2027. Online voting instructions for retired delegates will be sent only to retired and retired life NEA members.
Retired members receive an allocation of RA delegates in proportion to their membership and candidates for those seats are elected by the retired membership.
Tentative dates for the RA are June 30 to July 4, 2027, and it is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis, Indiana. The statewide, regional and retired delegates from Massachusetts will attend, in addition to delegates elected by local associations.
The Credentials and Ballot Committee has adopted procedures for the election that call for online voting instructions to be sent to each NEA member in Massachusetts.
Those who prefer to vote by paper ballot may request one by following the instructions that will be sent to all voters.
Voting is by secret ballot, and the election and tabulation are conducted under the supervision of the Credentials and Ballot Committee.
There is a $2,400 travel stipend for statewide, regional, retired and student delegates.
Elected delegates are expected to comply with the accountability requirements set forth by the MTA. Funding will not be provided unless accountability requirements are met.
The procedure for the election of MTA delegates to the RA should be reviewed carefully by anyone considering candidacy.
